The People’s United Party has also weighed in on the weekend events. In a release issued today the opposition condemns the illegal military incursion by the Guatemalan Armed Forces and deplores the hostile and aggressive attitude of the G.A.F. towards the B.D.F. The P.U.P. says that the incident is another violation of international law by […]
The decision by Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega not to seek re-election as Deputy Party Leader and Area Rep for Orange Walk North has sent the U.D.P. in a tailspin. The party convention takes place this weekend in Dangriga and while elections for the DPL post are not scheduled, there are some positioning themselves to […]
Why did very powerful Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega decide to give up politics? That’s the million dollar question right now. The last time we interviewed Vega he told us that he would be making a play for the top spot when Prime Minister Dean Barrow gives it up at the end of this term. […]
In an exclusive interview conducted with Prime Minister Dean Barrow in mid-January, he told News Five that the upcoming U.D.P. convention scheduled for March twentieth would be an exemption from what would have otherwise been an election for leadership of the party. At the time he outlined a chronology that would eventually give way to […]
It is confirmed. U.D.P. power-broker, financier and three term area representative Gaspar Vega is getting out of politics, or at least that’s what it looks like. The rumors started circulating on Wednesday, and News Five has managed to get hold of a copy of a letter written by Vega, dated March eighth. It’s addressed to […]
There’s no smoking gun in Vega’s letter but there’s no doubt a cannon has been fired somewhere by somebody. Speculation is roaming wild and free. Did Vega resign because he felt he was punked by Prime Minister Barrow when his powerful lands portfolio was taken away? Is there a serious rift in the U.D.P.? Is […]
Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega was not at Tuesday’s Budget Presentation in the House. And there is word that the DPM has dropped a bombshell. News Five has been reliably informed that Vega has informed the Prime Minister and U.D.P. Party Leader Dean Barrow that he will not be seeking endorsement at the upcoming party […]
Where does the People’s United Party stand on going to the International Court of Justice? It hasn’t been exactly clear. There are those who are obviously in favor of resolution through the Court if that is the decision of the people in a referendum. And then there are those who nix the idea completely, claiming […]
It didn’t make it into Tuesday’s news, since the 2016/2017 Budget took center stage, but was a significant political change on the Opposition side of the gallery. The expected change was that newly sworn in Leader of the Opposition John Briceño would change position to reflect his leadership role. But what wasn’t expected is that […]
Against the backdrop of the Budget, bills were passed which may have flown below the radar of first scrutiny, but they are significant. For example, one piece of Immigration legislation pushed through the House will allow the Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration to sign documents, like passports, when the Constitution specifically gives […]
The House of Representatives met in session this morning, and in short order there was the much anticipated presentation of the budget for fiscal year 2016/2017. It’s Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s ninth budget over three terms of a United Democratic Party administration, and is being called Stability in a Time of Change. Barrow prefaced his […]
Petrocaribe money played a very significant role in the spending which characterized the 2015/2015 fiscal year. The Barrow administration has taken significant and continuous flak for its spending of the three hundred and twenty-five million it has accessed since 2012. As he always has, though, the PM defends the government’s use of the money, accusing […]
Speaking on the adjournment in response to a question raised, the PM also spoke at length about a current crisis facing the citrus industry. In a release issued late last week, the Citrus Growers Association informed growers that making payroll in the immediate future will be an iffy proposition. As explanation, the CGA claims that […]
P.U.P. leader John Briceño has been openly forecasting that the budget would be a dismal one based on a variety of factors, including industries which seem to be falling and failing for one reason or the other. Faced with the same realities and the same figures, PM Barrow says that public finances are sturdy and […]
Not surprisingly, PM Barrow wasn’t impressed by Briceño’s preliminary analysis of his Stability budget. He says that it wasn’t about overspending to buy the affections of the people, but rather investing in the people in a way which is now reaping full dividends. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “I would think that the people of […]
Today Briceño made the announcement of new Senators who will replace Lisa Shoman, Patrick Andrews and Anthony Sylvestre in the National Assembly. All three had remained in that position in the wake of the 2015 general elections, with the understanding that whoever emerged as PUP leader after the January thirty-first convention would name his replacements. […]
As we told you, all those matters of national importance were discussed by Briceño and the Prime Minister this morning. But outside of that, the leaders also discussed the level of discourse in the House. It’s gotten to the point where constructive debate is a rarity and expressions of respect are non-existent. But Briceño hopes […]
The B.P.P. did not do spectacularly well in the 2015 general elections, but the Party was present and accounted for. According to leader Patrick Rogers, it is all part of a long term plan which assures them electoral success. Today the party achieved a major plank in that plan with the opening of headquarters in […]
And on Thursday night, the Jamaica Labour Party defeated the People’s National Party and won thirty-three of the sixty-three seats in Parliament. Andrew Holness, the leader of the J.L.P.’s message of deep tax cuts and massive job creation won over the voters who have withstood years of I.M.F. austerity measures. He told jubilant supporters that […]
Since returning to Independence Hall as leader of the People’s United Party on February first, John Briceño called his first meeting of the national executive this morning. The upper echelon of the P.U.P. gathered at the party’s headquarters in Belize City to discuss a range of issues, including a sort-out of its administration. Along with […]
While new opposition senators are yet to be named, a parliamentary caucus has been arranged for Monday during which it is expected that names will be fielded. The opposition can appoint three senators and there are discussions to replace senators Patrick Andrews, Anthony Sylvestre and Lisa Shoman. In respect of the party’s finances, a brief […]
Is there bad blood lingering among supporters of previous party leader, Francis Fonseca post the January thirty-first national convention? Since Fonseca’s defeat, Toledo East Area Representative, Mike Espat has reportedly maintained a negative social media blitz in which Party Leader, John Briceño continues to be disparaged. While Usher declined comment on the matter, he told […]
This Thursday, Jamaicans go to the polls to decide where Prime Minister Portio Simpson known as Mama P will remains as the P.N.P. Prime Minister or whether Opposition Leader Andrew Holness of the J.L.P. will be elected to run the country where sixty-three seats are up for grabs. Last minute campaigning is underway in the […]
And our question for tonight is: Do you believe the government is financially bankrupt? Yes or No? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, they only got word of Fruta Bomba’s departure two days ago, but P.U.P. leader John Briceño, who hails from the north of the country, says that explanation is unsatisfactory. According to Briceño, the writing has been on the wall for a long time now and the ministry was caught […]
